Microsoft Scraps Microsoft Flight, Project Columbia

Microsoft's flight simulator game has killed and brought back from the dead multiple times since early 2009, so it should come as no surprise that the most recent incarnation has once again been laid to rest.

Microsoft's flight simulator game has killed and brought back from the dead multiple times since early 2009, so it should come as no surprise that the most recent incarnation has once again been laid to rest.

Redmond confirmed Wednesday that it has ended development of Microsoft Flight, which was re-released in January to replace Flight Simulator, and Project Columbia, an interactive children's TV project. The company also plans to reassign 35 Vancouver-based studio jobs as a result of the shutdowns.

In an official statement from Microsoft, the company said it is always evaluating its projects to determine what is best for gamers, families, and the company, calling this decision "the result of the natural ebb and flow of our portfolio management."

Redmond's decision to scrap Microsoft Flight and Project Columbia is steeped in the idea that this will help the company "better align with our long-term goals and development plans."

Microsoft has been providing gamers with a means to flight simulation for almost three decades, but the franchise was shut down in 2009 when Redmond closed ACES Studios, the developer of the Flight Simulator series. In August 2010, the game returned to consoles as Microsoft Flight.

Now, the flight simulator will remain available as a free download, with a limited number of plans and locations. Ars Technica reported that the affiliated online store will also stay open for players to purchase new planes, locales, and gameplay goals, though no new content will be added.

Meanwhile, Project Columbia (video below), first announced last year, has been added to the cutting-room floor. Partnerships with Sesame Street and National Geographic TV to allow kids to interact with the shows, however, will continue.

"While we made the difficult decision to stop development on 'Project Columbia,' we remain committed to creating the best experiences possible for families and gamers," an Xbox 360 spokesman said in a statement. "With that in mind, 'Kinect Sesame Street TV' and 'Kinect Nat Geo TV' are still very much in development and will ship this September."

About the Author

Stephanie began as a PCMag reporter in May 2012. She moved to New York City from Frederick, Md., where she worked for four years as a multimedia reporter at the second-largest daily newspaper in Maryland. She interned at Baltimore magazine and graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (in the town of Indiana, in the state of Pennsylvania) w... See Full Bio

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